In a statement, Annan said he shared the "distress" of many Muslims at the publications of the cartoons, first published in Denmark in September and recently reprinted mainly in Europe.

But Annan said such resentment cannot justify violence, least of all when it is directed against people who have no responsibility for or control over the publications in question.

On 5 February, thousands of angry Muslims set fire to the Danish Embassy in Beirut, prompting the country's interior minister to resign.

On 4 February, thousands of protesters destroyed the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus.

The European Union has condemned the violence as "utterly unacceptable."

(dpa)

Islam In A Pluralistic World

A Muslim woman (left) watches a Christian procession in Madrid in March (AFP)

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CONFERENCE ON ISLAM: A major international conference on Islam concluded in Vienna in November 2005 with strong appeals from prominent Muslim leaders to recognize international terrorism as simply "terrorism." Political figures from Islamic countries, including the presidents of Iraq and Afghanistan, argued that it should never be labeled "Islamic" or "Muslim" terrorism because Islam is based on peace, dialogue, and tolerance. "Salaam" -- meaning "peace" -- was the key word of the three-day conference, titled "ISLAM IN A PLURALISTIC WORLD." Iraqi President Jalal Talibani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai used the word in their remarks to emphasize the peaceful nature of Islam. Other speakers quoted passages from the Koran to the effect that all men and women, regardless of faith, are creatures of God and should live in peace with each other without discrimination...(more)